Intervertebral Spinal Implant and Method of Making the Same

Abstract

An intervertebral implant for replacing a damage intervertebral disk within the spinal column can include a generally flat body having opposing surfaces. To promote bone growth and fusion of the adjacent vertebrae together, in an aspect, the implant can be provided with osteogenic or medicinal material received into one or more apertures disposed into the surfaces of the implant. To better retain the osteogenic material, the apertures can be disposed on a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the implant and/or can be tapered. In another aspect, the implant can include a plurality of grooves disposed across a surface to reduce slipping of the inserted implant between the adjacent vertebrae. In a further aspect, the implant can be formed by cutting a plurality of implants parallel along the diaphysis of a long bone. In another aspect, the implant can be generally as a bow or question mark.

1 . An intervertebral implant comprising:
 a generally flat body of cortical bone cut parallel to the long axis of a bone diaphysis, the body having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a peripheral surface between the opposing first and second surfaces;   a plurality of gull-wing shaped grooves disposed into the first surface;   at least one aperture disposed into the body from the first surface toward the second surface, the at least one aperture being disposed into the first surface on a non-perpendicular angle; and   osteogenic material received in the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture is generally cylindrical and extends through the second surface. 
     
     
         3 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is generally ‘D’-shaped and wherein the peripheral surface includes a first generally straight lateral edge, a second generally straight lateral edge parallel to the first edge, a third generally straight edge extending between the first and second lateral edges, and a fourth generally curved edge extending between the first and second lateral edges and opposing the third edge, the fourth curved edge being directed away from the third edge. 
     
     
         4 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are non-parallel and inclined with respect to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second surfaces are inclined on an angle of about 40° . 
     
     
         6 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body has an average thickness between the first and second surfaces between about 0.5 cm to about 2.0 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body has an average width between the first and second lateral edges of about 3 cm and an average length between the third edge and the apex of the fourth curved edge between about 1.3 cm to about 2.5 cm. 
     
     
         8 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the osteogenic material is selected from the group consisting of non-de-mineralized particular bone material, de-mineralized bone matrix, partially de-mineralized bone material, partially de-calcified bone material, AAA bone graft, or osteogenic growth factors including BMP. 
     
     
         9 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the body is selected from allogeneic bone tissue and xenogeneic bone tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture includes a first section extending to 0.5 to 1.0 mm from the second surface and a second section disposed through the second surface to form a hole therein having a diameter of about 1.0 mm to about 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         11 . An intervertebral implant comprising:
 a body having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a peripheral surface between the opposing first and second surfaces;   a plurality of gull-wing shaped grooves disposed into the first surface; and   osteogenic material received in the plurality of gull-wing shaped grooves.   
     
     
         12 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 11 , wherein the body is generally ‘D’-shaped and wherein the peripheral surface including a first generally straight lateral edge, a second generally straight lateral edge parallel to the first edge, a third generally straight edge extending between the first and second lateral edges, and a fourth generally curved edge extending between the first and second lateral edges and opposing the third edge, the fourth curved edge being directed away from the third edge. 
     
     
         13 . The intervertebral implant of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of gull-wing shaped grooves each includes a first curve and a second curve both directed toward the fourth curved edge, the first and second curves intersecting approximately mid-width between the first and second lateral edges.